(JNS) The political action committee of the Republican Jewish Coalition announced its endorsement on Monday, July 20, of neurosurgeon John Cowan ahead of the August 11 run-off in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District to succeed retiring Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.). 

RJC executive director Matt Brooks said that while his organization “seldom gets involved in Republican primaries,” it is “making a rare exception to announce our strong support for Dr. Cowan.” Last month, the RJC announced that it would not endorse businesswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a candidate in a Georgia Republican run-off who has come under fire for trafficking in conspiracy theories and posing for photos with former Ku Klux Klan leader Chester Doles. Brooks warned that, if elected, Greene “would take our party in the wrong direction. Greene came to national attention for all the wrong reasons: repeatedly using offensive language in long online video diatribes, promoting bizarre political conspiracy theories, and refusing to admit a mistake after posing for photos smiling side by side with a long-time KKK leader.”

“By contrast, Dr. Cowan, a respected neurosurgeon, has demonstrated the right principles: denouncing all types of bigotry and violent extremism, emphasizing strong roots in his district and speaking out strongly for mainstream conservative values, including support for President Trump and a strong pro-Israel stance,” said Brooks. “Throughout its history, the RJC has consistently stood up and spoken out clearly against bigotry and extremism in our party, the most recent example being our support for the primary defeat last month of [Iowa] Congressman Steve King,” he continued. Cowan told JNS that he is “a strong supporter of Israel” and recognizes how “important the relationship between our two countries is.”

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) also endorsed Cowan, saying that “the comments made by Ms. Greene are disgusting, and don’t reflect the values of equality and decency that make our country great.” 

Greene has been endorsed by prominent right-wingers, including Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Charlie Kirk, founder of the pro-Trump youth group Turning Point USA.

Cowan and Greene are vying to face Democratic nominee Kevin Van Ausdal in November.

Main Photo: John Cowan, a neurosurgeon in the Aug. 11 run-off in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Credit: Cowan for Congress.